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S. ‘Soma’ Somasegar, 1966-2026: Microsoft and Madrona leader was a champion of developers and startups
Soma Somasegar, the Microsoft developer leader who shaped a generation of AI startups through Madrona, has died at 59.
The KeyNews take
Why it matters
A pivotal figure in developer tools and early AI venture investing has passed. His mentorship of founders and influence on Microsoft's developer platform strategy shaped the infrastructure layer of today's AI economy.
The key facts
8 to knowS. 'Soma' Somasegar, 1966-2026
Longtime Microsoft developer platform leader
Madrona Venture Group managing director
Known as mentor to developers and founders
Seattle tech community fixture
Longtime Microsoft developer leader
Madrona Ventures managing director
Fixture of Seattle tech community
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GeekWiregeekwire.com
Publisher excerpt: Friends and colleagues remembered S. "Soma" Somasegar, the longtime Microsoft developer leader and Madrona managing director, as a generous mentor to developers and founders, and a fixture of Seattle's tech community.